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Brewery Setup Blog

How do I start a microbrewery?

Mar 15, 2016
helen

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start a microbrewery

How do I start a microbrewery?

In my 3 years work experience as a guider of craft brewery, I have served near 900 customers who consult about starting a microbrewery. They are from different places in the world working in different areas, including brewmaster, home brewer, owner for restaurants/bars, student from university, and even CEO from oil/water business area. Now I want to share my experience preparing for building a microbrewery, hoping those ideas bring you an initial impression for this interesting project.

Confirm a business direction:
Yes, firstly, you should find a good business model for your brewery. The microbrewery can be an independent brewhouse, a bar, a restaurants with delicious food, a pilot room or a contract brewery etc. If you are not sure about the business model, then do some simple research and thinking. Open the goole map or city network to check how many microbrewery is running in your place, and learn about their selling models, beer flavors etc. Then you will get an initial idea for your brewery plan. For example, you could think to serve different beer flavors in your brewery. The big charm of craft beer is that people are able to always find the difference from the taps and trace back to the brewing process from the first taste.

Have an initial plan to beer yield:
Once you decided the business mode, then you can estimate the beer yield. If it is installed as an independent brewery, the main customers are the restaurants, bars, barbecue, club and various parties in local place. Then you should estimate a beer yield that is not too small. We suggest a 1000L system minimum. And usually in that case you will have a initial idea for the start plan, middle plan and end plan with several expansions. If the brewery is installed in restaurant, or bar, you can estimate the beer yield according to the seat or daily customer flow. Usually it is 300L-1000L system. If the brewery is installed as an pilot for training people or teaching etc., then the beer yield is not so important. Usually a 100L-300L brewery should be ok.

Please note: if the brewery is installed to take margin, then the beer yield can not be too small. A suitable beer yield help to lower the brewing cost (staff employs, rent etc.) and recover the investment quickly. We suggest to start from minimum 300L system.

Consult the equipment from the beer equipment manufactures:
Search the manufactures on the internet. Those manufactures are from local place, or overseas like USA, Australia, China, Europe, Canada etc. Those places already gain much experience along these years. Send them inquiry and describe your idea for the plan, then they will work out the proposal with price for you. A honest manufacture will also give some useful suggestions and help to design your tanks and building to really proceed your plan.
It is also a good choice to buy the used equipment from local. But please pay attention to their shelf life and sanitation conditions before buying the used equipment.

Those basic questions should be helpful if you are new in this area:
1.How many liters of beer do you expect to produce per day?
2.How many kinds of beer do you brew?
3.Is there any idea to expand in future?

If you are brewmaster, just feel free to tell the manufacture your own detailed ideas or designs on the equipment.

Usually from the manufacture you will get those helpful information quickly:
Proposal options and suggestions for the brewery
Budget for the beer brewing equipment, freight etc.
Reference suggestions for building plan, water&electricity arrangement
Cost and benefit estimation for running a microbrewery
Information about the brewing materials
Brewing process training

Regarding the Building plan:
A smart schedule must also take the building plan in front. If you don’t have a building yet. Let the manufactures help you to work out a reference building plan for your brewery. Then you can look for the similar building according to this building plan. If you already have the building you plan to install the brewery, it is also necessary to tell the manufacture the ceiling height and area of the building. A building plan will help you to check the possibility of every proposal you are thinking of.

Apply permit for brewing:
Meanwhile, it is time to apply the brewing permit from government. Some countries from Europe are very strict about it, and you will take several months to pass it. So I suggest to do this job in advance once you decide to setup a microbrewery. Some countries don’t have rules about it, for example Uzbekistan where require ISO certificate only.In China, if we have a restaurant we can brew beer.

Financial raise up with your partners or from bank
At last don’t forget to let people know you are coming soon!

Any questions please feel free to email me via the following email.

Edited by Jana
Sales Manager in Tiantai Company
Email:brau@cnbrewery.com

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